‘Just an average team’: All the quotes that matter after Manchester United’s latest nightmare in The Champions League

Once again Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United failed to deliver when it mattered and even the more faithful among his fans at Old Trafford must now be finding it difficult to envisage him seeing out his 3 year contract at the club.

Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand were in the BT Sport studio and gave these assessments.

“United are just an average team and with an average team you get average performances. You have to say they have not bought as well as they could have done. If you are relying on a 20-year-old kid [Martial], it’s just not right.”

“When you see the facts – we went further in the Capital One Cup, qualified for the Champions League group, we have played all these matches and are still in a very good position in the league,” he said.

“The facts say we are better than last year.

“I’m also disappointed that we are out of the Champions League.”

Now, in the third season since Sir Alex left the club, Manchester United’s trajectory seems alarmingly similar to that of Liverpool after their heyday in the 70s and 80s. Then, as now, it was a case of mis spent money and slipping standards under Graeme Souness and his successors.

Manchester United need a visionary at the helm. A young man with hunger, drive and nous. Someone with a modern outlook on the game who simply wants to attack.

For our money, the best solutions are Diego Simeone or a job share between Gary Neville (head honcho), Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes (right and left hand men).